(NewsNation) — After speaking on the death of Alexi Navalny, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Joe Biden called on Congress to take action on Ukraine aid.
“It’s about time they step up, don’t you think?” Biden said. “So to go on a two-week vacation? Two weeks, walking away two weeks? What are they thinking?”
Biden said Congress’ inability to pass the funding bill reinforced concerns that the U.S. is no longer a reliable ally.
“This is outrageous,” Biden said.
His statements came in response to a question from a reporter on whether or not there is a way for the U.S. to continue to provide aid to Ukraine if Congress does not pass a supplemental funding bill.
Foreign aid for Ukraine, as well as Israel and Taiwan, has been delayed as Congress fights over supplemental funding. Initially, Republicans refused to pass any bill for foreign aid without including funding for the border and harsher immigration policies.
A compromise bill in the Senate included funding for securing the border as well as changes to immigration policy, including allowing the president to close the border if crossings met a certain threshold, something Biden said he would do.
However, Republicans blocked the bill after former President Donald Trump urged them not to pass it because it wasn’t “perfect.” House Republicans also objected, refusing to consider the compromise because it did not go far enough.
After the border compromise failed, lawmakers moved to pass a separate supplemental funding bill that only included foreign aid. While the legislation passed in the Senate, it has stalled in the House, where Speaker Mike Johson, R-La., said lawmakers would not be rushed.
A number of Republicans have opposed aid to Ukraine on principle, even as other Republicans have continued to express support for the country’s fight against Russia.
